Objective To assesse the quality of life of patients after cardiac pacemaker implantation using the Chinese version of SF-36.Methods Ninety-eight patients with permanent cardiac pacemaker implantation were investigated before and after the operation in terms of quality of life by using the Chinese version SF-36.Results Successful surgery was performed on all the 98 patients.The previous symptoms of the patients were improved to vari- ous extend after the operation.The quality of life of the patients was significantly improved after operation as demon- strated by the significant difference of the scores in 9 domains of SF-36 when compared with those before the operation (P

OBJECTIVETo determine the mechanism of pseudo-tears of the lateral meniscus caused by the transverse geniculate ligament (TL) and the miniscofemoral ligament(MFL) and to investigate a method to differentiate pseudo-tears from true tear of the lateral meniscus.

METHODSForm June 2012 to February 2014, MR examinations of 72 knees (44 left knees and 28 right knees) without tear of the lateral meniscus verified by arthroscopy were performed in the sagittal and coronal plane. There were 41 males and 31 females in the group, with an average age of 33.7 years old (ranged from 25 to 61). The MR appearance of the TL and the MFL was carefully observed.

RESULTSThere existed fatty tissue in the gap between the TL and the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus and its central tendinous attachment. On the sagittal images, the fatty tissue formed a linear high-signal cleft between the TL and the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus. This might be mistaken as an oblique tear within the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus. It was called as pseudo-tears of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus. In sagittal plane, the MFL was identified as a circle-like or short stick-like area of low signal intensity anterior or posterior to the posterior cruciateligament. Nevertheless, a belt-shaped area of low signal intensity from the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus to lateral facet of the medial femoral condyle was identified in the coronal plane. A linear area of high signal intensity between the MFL and the lateral meniscus was found in sagittal plane, which might be mistaken as an oblique tear within the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus. It was called pseudo-tears of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus. The occurrence rate of the TL was 34.7% (25/72). The prevaleribe of pseudo-tears of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus was 18 cases. The shape of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus was regular, and the course of the pseudo-tears cleft was oblique. The occurrence rate of the MFL was 73.6% (53/72), which included the anterior MFL 23.6% (17/72), the posterior MFL 70.8% (51/72) and the two ligaments coexisted 16.7% (12/72). The prevalence of pseudo-tears of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus was 25 cases. All observed pseudo-tears had either in posteroinferiorly oblique direction (19/25) or in vertical direction (6/25).

CONCLUSIONBased on the location and direction of pseudo-tears and observation in the continuous sagittal plane and the coronal plane, pseudo-tears is easily differentiated from the true tear of the lateral meniscus

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Injuries ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Knee Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Menisci, Tibial ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Tibial Meniscus Injuries

Objective To detect the mutations of ATP2C1 gene in patients with Hailey-Hailey dis- ease (HHD).Methods PCR and direct sequencing were performed in 17 patients and 120 healthy controls to screen the mutations in the exons of ATP2C1 gene.Results Eight mutations were identified in nine probands, including three deletion mutations (nt1464-1487 del/nt1462-1485del,1523delAT,2375delTTGT),three splice site mutations (360—2A→G,1415—2A→T,2243+2T→C) and two missence mutations (C920T and G1942T).None of the above mutations was found in the controls.Conclusion Eight specific novel mutations were identified in nine probands of HHD,which could be causative factors of the disease.

BACKGROUNDNon-valvular atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke; however, the appropriate intensity of anticoagulation therapy for Chinese patients has not been determined. The purpose of this study was to compare the safety and the efficacy of standard-intensity warfarin therapy, low-intensity warfarin therapy, and aspirin therapy for the prevention of ischemic events in Chinese patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

METHODSA total of 786 patients from 75 Chinese hospitals were enrolled in this study and randomized into three therapy groups: standard-intensity warfarin (international normalized ratio (INR) 2.1 to 2.5) group, low-intensity warfarin (INR 1.6 to 2.0) group and aspirin (200 mg per day) group. All patients were evaluated by physicians at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months after randomization to obtain a patient questionnaire, physical examination and related laboratory tests.

RESULTSThe annual event rates of ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA) or systemic thromboembolism were 2.6%, 3.1% and 6.9% in the standard-intensity warfarin, low-intensity warfarin and aspirin groups, respectively (P = 0.027). Thromboembolic event rates in both warfarin groups were significantly lower than that in the aspirin group (P = 0.018, P = 0.044), and there was no significant difference between the two warfarin groups. Severe hemorrhagic events occurred in 15 patients, 7 (2.6%) in the standard-intensity warfarin group, 7 (2.4%) in the low-intensity warfarin group and 1 (0.4%) in the aspirin group. The severe hemorrhagic event rates in the warfarin groups were higher than that in the aspirin group, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.101). The mild hemorrhagic and total hemorrhagic event rates in the warfarin groups (whether in the standard-intensity warfarin group or low-intensity warfarin group) were much higher than that in the aspirin group with the annual event rates of total hemorrhages of 10.2%, 7.6% and 2.2%, respectively, in the 3 groups (P = 0.001). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in all cause mortality among the three study groups.

CONCLUSIONIn Chinese patients with NVAF, the warfarin therapy (INR 1.6 - 2.5) for the prevention of thromboembolic events was superior to aspirin.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anticoagulants ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Aspirin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Atrial Fibrillation ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Warfarin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVEIn order to explore if power frequency magnetic field (PFMF) can act as cancer promoter or be synergistic with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA) in cancer promotion, the effects of 50 Hz MF on gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) of astrocytes were observed.

METHODSFluorescence redistribution after photobleaching (FRAP) was adopted to observe the recovery of fluorescence intensity in the bleached cells thus to estimate intercellular communication by gap junction. Comparative fluorescence intensity recovery rate (CFIRR) was as evaluation index. The effects of 50 Hz MF alone or with TPA on GJIC of astrocytes were studied.

RESULTSAfter 3 ng/ml TPA treatment for 1 hour, M(d) of CFIRR was 4.53%/min, whereas that in the control group was 9.74%/min (H = 12.084, P < 0.005). After exposure to 0.8 and 1.6 mT magnetic field for 24 hours respectively, M(d) of CFIRR was 8.25%/min and 6.68%/min respectively, no significant difference from that of control (H = 32.617, P > 0.05). After exposure to 0.8 and 1.6 mT magnetic field for 23 hours then combined with 3 ng/ml TPA treatment for 1 hour, M(d) of CFIRR was 3.32%/min and 2.85%/min respectively, also no significant difference from that in the group treated with 3 ng/ml TPA alone (H = 2.589, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION50 Hz MF (within 0 - 1.6 mT) alone could not inhibit GJIC of astrocytes; with TPA, could not enhance the inhibition of TPA on GJIC of astrocytes. But with MF intensity increasing, the inhibition of MF on GJIC showed elevated tendency.

Animals ; Astrocytes ; radiation effects ; ultrastructure ; Cell Communication ; radiation effects ; Electromagnetic Fields ; adverse effects ; Gap Junctions ; radiation effects ; Ornithine Decarboxylase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of different doses of microwave on the proliferative activity and cell cycle of cultured epithelial cells of rabbit lens, and to investigate the limit tolerant of microwave exposure.

METHODSCultured epithelial cells of rabbit lens were exposed to microwave radiation with frequency of 2,450 MHz and power density of 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, 2.00 mW/cm(2) for 8 h in vitro. HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes of lens epithelial cells, the proliferative activity and cell cycle were measured by MTT assay and PI fluorescent staining.

RESULTS8 h after radiation, 0.50, 1.00 and 2.00 mW/cm(2) microwave could decrease the proliferation of lens epithelial cells, make the cells disordered arrangement, shrinkage, detachment, and inhibit the synthesis of cell DNA. The percentage of G(0)/G(1) phase cells were 71.95% +/- 2.12%, 75.68% +/- 3.35% and 82.40% +/- 8.68% respectively, which were higher than that in control group (61.68% +/- 5.76%, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The percentage of S phase cells were 19.32% +/- 3.07%, 16.08% +/- 4.91% and 12.98% +/- 8.08% respectively, which were lower than that in control group (28.05% +/- 5.12%, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). No obvious changes could be detected in 0.10, 0.25 mW/cm(2) microwave groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMicrowave exceeding 0.50 mW/cm(2) may make injury to lens epithelial cells after 8 hour radiation, which may be related to the effect of microwave radiation on cell cycle.

Animals ; Cell Cycle ; radiation effects ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA ; metabolism ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Lens, Crystalline ; cytology ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Microwaves ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of low power microwave radiation on lens hydration and lens epithelial cells in vitro, and detect the expression of PKC-alpha, c-fos and c-jun in lens epithelial cells.

METHODSRabbit lens were exposed to microwave radiation with frequency of 2450 MHz and power density of 0.5, 2.0 and 5.0 mW/cm(2) in vitro. The hydration of lens was measured after 8 hours. Morphological changes of lens epithelial cells were observed using a phase-contrast microscope and Hoechst 33258 staining. Expression of PKC-alpha, c-fos and c-jun were analyzed using gel electrophoresis and western blot analysis.

RESULTSAfter 2.0 and 5.0 mW/cm(2) microwave radiation, the hydration of lens was increased compared to control groups (P<0.05), the shape of lens epithelial cells showed shrinking and disorder and cells nuclei appeared chromatin condensation. There was no change of lens and lens epithelial cells after 0.5 mW/cm(2) microwave radiation. The expression of PKC-alpha was significantly increased in cell membrane, however, decreased in cell cytoplasm after 2.0 mW/cm(2) microwave radiation for 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours. There was significantly increased expression of c-fos and c-jun protein compared with control groups (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONLow power microwave radiation higher than 2.0 mW/cm(2) can activate PKC-alpha by increasing its expression in cell membrane, then induce high expression of c-fos and c-jun, which may relate to cellular signaling pathway of microwave radiation injury to lens and lens epithelial cells.

Animals ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiation effects ; In Vitro Techniques ; Lens, Crystalline ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Protein Kinase C-alpha ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo implore the positive effects of endoscopic sinus surgery on the symptoms and quality of life (QOL) of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and their changing regularity of symptoms and QOL.

METHODSA prospective, randomized and controlled trial was conducted to survey symptoms and QOL status of 120 CRS patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery, in contrast to that of 200 healthy individuals passing health examination, at the baseline and at 3- and 6-months postoperatively by visual analog score (VAS) symptom instrument and QOL instruments including medical outcome study short-form 36-items health survey (SF-36) and sino-nasal outcome test-20 (SNOT-20).

RESULTSIn the 3 months follow-up settings, total of individual symptom severity scores and global symptom severity scores of VAS, such domains as role physical and general health of SF-36 and total of the 20 items scores and the most important 5-item scores of SNOT-20 all began to get better markedly (P < 0.05); in the 3-6 months follow-up settings, the indices above stayed fixed (P > 0.05); and in the 6-months follow-up settings, indices of symptoms and QOL status entirely improved from the baseline, with SF-36 showing no scoring difference between CRS patients and healthy individuals, whereas VAS showed that abnormal nasal drainage and decreased sense of smell were still left and SNOT-20 showed that abnormal nasal drainage and lack of good sleep left, inferior to that of healthy objects significantly (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSOn the whole CRS patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery recover symptomatically and come back to normal level of QOL status at the 6 months postoperatively, but such significant problems as abnormal nasal drainage, decreased sense of smell and lack of good sleep still remain and need to be treated.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Chronic Disease ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Polyps ; psychology ; surgery ; Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures ; Postoperative Period ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Sinusitis ; psychology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Aged ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatectomy ; methods ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) and depakine (DP) on the changes of membrane potential and peroxidate in rat cortex neurons exposed to ferrous chloride (FeCl(2)).

METHODSCultured cortex neurons of newly born SD rats were randomly divided into control group (PBS group), model group (FeCl(2) group), NAC pretreatment group (NAC group), DP pretreatment group (DP group) and NAC+DP pretreatment group (NAC+DP group). In the latter three groups, NAC (0.08 mg/ml) and DP (0.1 mg/ml) were added in the cell culture 2 and 3 h before FeCl(2) (1 mmol/L) exposure, respectively. After exposure to FeCl(2), the membrane potential of the neurons was detected with fluorescent dye DiBAC4(3) (bis-(1,3-dibutylbarbituric acid) trimethine oxonol), and the peroxidate level with 2,7-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (H(2)DCF) by laser confocal scanning microscope (LCSM) and nuclear factor-KappaB (NF-KappaB) level with immunocytochemistry.

RESULTSCompared with FeCl(2) group, the expression of NF-KappaB and peroxidate level in the neurons were decreased significantly in NAC and NAC+DP groups (P<0.01), but not in DP group (P>0.05). FeCl(2) depolarized the membrane potential and increased the expression of NF-KappaB in the neurons. Compared with FeCl(2) group, significant changes in the membrane potential were observed in DP and NAC+DP groups (P<0.01) but not in NAC or PBS group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONBoth NAC and DP can protect the neurons from FeCl(2)-induced damage but through different pathways, and their combined use can significantly alleviate neuronal damages due to FeCl(2) exposure. Antioxidants such as NAC in combination with antiepileptic drugs may produce favorable effect in prevention and treatment of posttraumatic epilepsy.

Acetylcysteine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cells, Cultured ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Female ; Ferrous Compounds ; pharmacology ; Male ; Membrane Potentials ; drug effects ; Neurons ; cytology ; metabolism ; physiology ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Peroxides ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Valproic Acid ; pharmacology